Christmas Traditions

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This year will be our first 'real' Christmas. This year we have a house that doesn't require us to huddle in a tiny flat with a botched Christmas dinner on our laps. This year DD1 is old enough to be excited and is already begging me to write notes to Santa on her behalf.

So, what are your Christmas traditions? DF has his family ones but apart from a prawn cocktail starter I have none with my family and would like to steal yours find inspiration.

Im starting some traditions this year!
Elf on the shelf, ds will pick a tree decoration every year, making christmas cards with ds for family, small christmas eve hamper.
Will think of some more soon, having abit of a blonde night!

I'm also starting traditions this year, so far have decided on

Christmas eve PJs to unwrap before bed and the night before Christmas book which I will put away with the decorations and wrap it up again every Christmas eve.

Refillable advent calendar, will have chocolate, small toys and christmas activities in it.

Mince pies and whisky (or brownies and baileys) for santa and a carrot on the doormat for Rudolph. Then on Christmas morning there will only be a small chewed bit of carrot left, mince pies gone and some glitter footprints from the fire to the tree.

Will also do some Christmassy activities like visiting santa, carol concerts and going to see Fenwicks window in Newcastle which has a different christmas display every year - its fab.

I mentioned to DF about Christmas PJ's. He's not a PJ's kind of guy but I might do it just for me and the DC's.

I love the glitter footprint idea! I will be taking that one on board. Definitely whisky and a mince pie (with Baileys cream) for Santa .

We have a tradition! Every year we take the DC's to Winter Wonderland in Cardiff (bar last year as I'd just given birth). The ice skating rink, book stalls, carousel, ferris wheel, lights, cold air and chocolate fountain? Bliss.

I'm taking the DC's to see Santa too. I wish we had a car to take them to see the window displays in London but Cardiff will do for now as we are on a serious budget.

Yep, im doing a refillable advent calender this year!
My mum used to put on big work boots and go and stomp in some mud and then do muddy footprints from the fireplace to the tree and back! Its what kept me believing till I was 12 . I figured there was no way my mum would willingly make that much mess on her floors!

we put up the tree together with carols on in the background and then have hot chocolate in out Christmas mugs. Always the second weekend in December then we do cards and post.

We have a Christmas family day out when we choose a new bauble for the tree, go to a panto or concert and have a meal. The next day we wrap parcels for under the tree.

I do the pj's on Christmas eve, leaving out food and drink but had to stop the boot prints as it stressed out ds2!

We also have a shopping afternoon, going to local shops and seeing the lights. My favourite though is taking the dog around the village to look at all the decorations. The dc love that one too.

your OH doesnt have to have pyjamas- my brother doesnt do jammies either, and last year he got a new dressing gown whilst the kids and i got jammies.

I have a refillable advent calendar MIL made. It has very small pockets so what would I put in them? DF suggests a little note with a little message from Santa and a count down and they'd get chocolate from their other advent calendars.

I thought of another one from my chidhood - on Christmas morning we all went downstairs and my brother and I had to wait on the stairs with Mam while Dad went into the living room to "check" santa had been. In reality he turned on the tree lights and opened the curtains, but that last minute of suspense was amazing!

There are a few threads on what to put in refillable calendars in the Christmas topic which have great ideas on - the one I've decided to adopt as my own is a piece of paper with an activity on e.g tonight after school we will make decorations/bake cakes/visit santa. Im putting small chocolates in some pockets, little gifts in others e.g hair slides, key ring and activities in the others. If you can't fit anything in your calendar you could maybe put a treasure hunt clue and hide the treat somewhere in the house, but I really like your DF's suggestion for the note from santa, I may pinch that when my DD is a bit older!